insignia
Americannoun
-
a badge or distinguishing mark of office or honor.
a military insignia.
-
a distinguishing mark or sign of anything.
an insignia of mourning.
noun
-
a badge or emblem of membership, office, or dignity
-
a distinguishing sign or mark
Usage
Insignia, originally the plural of Latin insigne, began to be used as a singular in the 18th century, and the plural insignias appeared shortly thereafter. All uses— insignia as a singular or plural and insignias as a plural—are fully standard. The singular insigne still occurs, but insignia is more common.
Etymology
Origin of insignia
1640–50; < Latin, plural of insigne mark, badge, noun use of neuter of insignis distinguished (by a mark); see in- 2, sign
Explanation
An insignia is a badge you wear to show your position or affiliation. If you're an Eagle Scout, you can wear that insignia, or, if you're a Red Sox fan, you might wear the team logo as your insignia. The word insignia includes the word "sign" — an insignia is a sign that shows your connection to some organization. Military officers wear insignias that indicate their rank. When you watch the president of the United States give a speech, you'll see on the lectern the official presidential insignia — the circular seal with the eagle inside.
Vocabulary lists containing insignia
The Things They Carried
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Fallen Angels
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Projekt 1065
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Even the stage curtain, graced with Brigadoon’s floral insignia, is a work of art.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 20, 2026
In the virtual hearing, which lasted five minutes, she said she spoke to a man dressed in a green uniform, stitched with what looked like government insignia, seated in front of an American flag.
From Salon ● May 2, 2026
Platner pleaded ignorance—claiming that he had gotten inked with insignia while drunk and off duty in Croatia, and didn’t understand the horrific context until much later.
From Slate ● Apr. 13, 2026
Already, German tanks and armored personnel carriers, emblazoned with the military’s black Iron Cross insignia, are training in Lithuania’s Rudninkai forest close to the border with Belarus, Russia’s closest ally.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 12, 2026
The young man who spoke threw back his coat to show his uniform and insignia.
From "Across Five Aprils" by Irene Hunt
A four-engine jetliner, which looks very much like a Pan Am 707 and has an insigne on the box similar to the Pan Am seal, costs $4.70.
From Time Magazine Archive
Reportedly Ernie King is already designing a new sleeve insigne and pondering a way to avoid the Milky Way effect on his starstudded shoulder boards by substituting a wreath, or something.
From Time Magazine Archive
Near by was William Tecumseh Sherman's ornate library table, and on it a model of the Oozlefinch bird, a frog-eyed, missile-toting creature, the insigne of Army missilemen at Fort Bliss, Texas.
From Time Magazine Archive
Why the Harriers keep crashing They wear the insigne of the ace of spades, card of death, on their olive-drab flight suits, and they speak with studied confidence of their assignment.
From Time Magazine Archive
“Anybody wearing the fraternity pin,” he added, and touched a blue dot tattooed under his left eye— an insigne, a visible password, by which certain former prison inmates could identify him.
From "In Cold Blood" by Truman Capote
USA House, whose walls bear insignias celebrating America’s 250th anniversary, is expected to be a hub of activity for meetings and other events.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 19, 2026
The armoured convoys are sporting white triangular insignias, seemingly to distinguish them from hardware used within Ukraine itself.
From BBC ● Aug. 11, 2024
“These are our favorite things on the planet,” said Stewart, who was heavily involved in developing “Honor Among Thieves,” down to the spells and insignias seen on screen.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 31, 2023
The male dancers are clearly wearing uniforms, but Demuth chooses not to include insignias, medals, or other identifying marks.
From Textbooks ● Dec. 21, 2021
Their arm insignias are navy blue or red or silver or gold.
From "Legend" by Marie Lu
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
